Regents approve bylaw and policy changes on equal‑opportunity language after public comment and split votes

LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted April 11 to amend multiple bylaws and system policies that remove or revise affirmative‑action and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language, a move that drew extended public comment and divided votes from regents.

The board approved two separate, related measures in Chapter 12 (items 12C2 and 12C4), along with related bylaws and policy updates the board said are intended to align system rules with recent federal guidance and executive actions. The measures passed after roll‑call votes in which several regents voted no or abstained.

The changes follow guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and an administration executive order referenced repeatedly during the meeting. Supporters on the board described the amendments as efforts to ensure university policies comply with federal contractor obligations; opponents said removing explicit protections could harm recruitment, retention and student success.

Members of the public urged the board to pause or reject the changes. Stephanie Bondi, a higher‑education doctoral student, told the regents the proposed bylaw edits “remove affirmative action, removing words like race, ethnicity, gender identity from the bylaws” and warned the change would reduce retention and increase harassment of minoritized students. “This is what the research says,” Bondi said.

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